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December 30, 2020

Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs

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Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs—perfectly seasoned meatballs simmered in a tomato pasta sauce with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. These meatballs have a fun twist! Raw orzo pasta is added to the meatballs and it cooks as the meatballs cook. The result is pasta and meatballs all together in one pot–your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!

Pin this recipe for later!

Note: the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below

Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs

Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs

If you’re a fan of porcupine meatballs you’re going to love these Instant Pot million dollar meatballs! Instead of rice I used orzo. It’s a fun way to have pasta and meatballs together in one delicious bite. I am already planning to make these again and next time I am going to double the recipe!

What kind of meat can I use? You can use any type of lean or extra lean ground meat. This could be ground beef, turkey, pork, chicken, elk, etc. The reason you need very lean ground meat is so that the meatballs aren’t swimming in grease when they are done. I used a pound of extra lean ground beef. Next time I make these I will double the meatball portion of the recipe and use 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound ground pork.

What is orzo? Orzo is pasta that is shaped like rice. You can use white or whole wheat orzo for this recipe (use the same cooking time). Orzo can be found in a small box next to other pastas. Barilla is the brand I usually find at my grocery store. Sometimes I buy it in the bulk section at Winco.

To make this recipe gluten free: Use uncooked long grain white rice in the place of orzo. Increase the pressure cooking time to 5 minutes.

What should I serve with Instant Pot million dollar meatballs? I served my meatballs with a green salad and frozen veggies that I steamed in the bag in the microwave. Another idea is to serve this with a loaf of French bread or homemade breadsticks. There is a plentiful amount of delicious sauce to dip bread in!

More Ground Beef Instant Pot Recipes…

Instant Pot John Wayne Casserole

Instant Pot Sloppy Joe Casserole

Instant Pot French Onion Rice

Instant Pot Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes

Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Instant Pot Meatloaf Bites

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Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs

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    Instant Pot Million Dollar Meatballs


    ★★★★★

    5 from 8 reviews

    • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
    • Total Time: 19 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Perfectly seasoned meatballs simmered in a tomato pasta sauce with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. These meatballs have a fun twist! Raw orzo pasta is added to the meatballs and it cooks as the meatballs cook. The result is pasta and meatballs all together in one pot–your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • 1 pound extra lean ground beef (or 1/2 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork)
    • 1/4 cup minced onion or 1 Tbsp minced dry onion
    • 1/2 cup uncooked orzo
    • 1 egg
    • 1 Tbsp dried parsley
    • 1 tsp kosher salt
    • 1/2 tsp pepper
    • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 (24 oz) jar Classico fire roasted tomato and garlic pasta sauce (or other favorite pasta sauce)
    • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
    • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    Instant Pot Instructions:

    1. Add 1 cup beef broth to bottom of Instant Pot.
    2. Add beef, onion, orzo, egg, parsley, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce to a mixing bowl. Use clean or gloved hands to combine the mixture.
    3. Form into ping pong size balls. Place each meatball into bottom of Instant Pot.
    4. Dump the sauce over the top of the meatballs.
    5. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid. 
    6. Gently stir in the cheeses. Serve and enjoy! (If there is extra sauce it is super yummy served over spaghetti squash).

    Slow Cooker Instructions:

    1. Add 1 cup beef broth to bottom of slow cooker. Stir in the pasta sauce.
    2. Add beef, onion, orzo, egg, parsley, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce to a mixing bowl. Use clean or gloved hands to combine the mixture.
    3. Form into ping pong size balls. Place each meatball into the sauce in the slow cooker.
    4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
    5. Gently stir in the cheeses. Serve and enjoy! 

    Notes

    I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*.

    This recipe is easy to double. Just double the meatball ingredients (keep the sauce and broth amount the same). Keep the cooking time the same.

    • Category: Beef
    • Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @365dayscrockpot on Instagram

    *Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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    38 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Beef, Can Be Gluten Free, Pork, Instant Pot, Pasta, Slow Cooker

    Recommendations

    Comments

    1. Anne Roberts says

      January 20, 2022 at 6:55 am

      Hi Karen I absolutely love your recipes they are the best instant pot recipes around. My one question is why are the lengths of time for cooking in a Crock-Pot so long. Anything I’ve made over the years I have checked halfway through the time and it’s perfectly done. It seems to happen with every recipe. My crock pot is very reliable. I’m making million dollar meatballs tonight for supper in the Crock-Pot for the first time and we’ll check it after 2 hours. Thanks for all your great recipes

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 21, 2022 at 3:05 pm

        I guess because every crockpot cooks differently. It sounds like you have a slow cooker that cooks a little more quickly. That’s ok! Just adjust the recipes accordingly.

        Reply
        • Anne Roberts says

          January 22, 2022 at 4:28 pm

          Thanks Karen…btw, the first time I made the meatballs, I did in the IP. Out of this world delicious.

          Reply
          • Karen says

            January 22, 2022 at 8:22 pm

            Yay!!!

            Reply
    2. Rita R Kauer says

      December 26, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      I haven’t tried the first meatball recipe made with orzo. I wasn’t a fan of the porcupine one and I don’t like to use store bought meatballs – must be the Italian in me! So I will try the first recipe when I can. I have a favorite slow cooker meatball recipe that makes soft melt in your mouth meatballs. I love your recipes I don’t know what I would do without them!!!!!!

      Reply
    3. Adam says

      December 16, 2021 at 7:55 pm

      I’ve made these a few times, and loved them. My only problem is the sauce is too this. I’ve been thinking of cooking some Orzo in the sauce at the same time. I was thinking of putting more broth in, and maybe add a can of seasoned diced tomatoes. Do you think that would add enough extra liquid to account for maybe 3/4 cup of orzo? Also, if you were to do this, when would you add the orzo? I’m thinking out the diced tomatoes on the meatballs, add the orzo, then he pasta sauce on top, and don’t mix.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Ron says

      December 4, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      I’ve made in the instant pot and they were great. I’m making them now in the slow cooker and wondering can you cook on high for half the time? Thanks for a great recipe!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        December 4, 2021 at 9:02 pm

        Yes you can do that 🙂

        Reply
    5. Sharon says

      November 19, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      I used reduced sodium beef broth, less salt and added 1 tsp. garlic power to the meatball mix. It was tasty. Will serve the leftovers over pasta.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        November 20, 2021 at 8:17 pm

        Love your ideas Sharon!

        Reply
    6. Carol says

      September 25, 2021 at 12:00 pm

      Would this work with ground turkey or chicken?

      Reply
      • Karen says

        September 25, 2021 at 12:54 pm

        Yes I bet that would be great!

        Reply
    7. Susan says

      February 20, 2021 at 7:07 am

      AMAZING! Even my picky eaters love them!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        February 22, 2021 at 2:03 pm

        YAY! 🙌

        Reply
    8. Monique says

      January 28, 2021 at 10:22 pm

      Is there a good gluten-free substitute for the orzo? Would rice work? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 29, 2021 at 12:42 pm

        Yes, use long grained white rice or jasmine rice

        Reply
    9. Heather G. says

      January 28, 2021 at 7:38 pm

      These have quickly become a favorite recipe in my house, and are absolutely perfect for busy nights! The only thing I do even slightly different is I add a bit of pesto – yum! Thanks for another great recipe!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 29, 2021 at 12:48 pm

        Yes yes yes to the pesto. I am a pesto fan!

        Reply
    10. Andrea says

      January 18, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      I made these without the cheese and replacing the egg with applesauce (my oldest daughter is allergic to egg and my youngest daughter has a dairy intolerance) and these were SO delicious! My very picky husband raved about them and loved them SO much! I doubled the recipe and will definitely do that again when I make them next time (which will be soon!)!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 19, 2021 at 3:17 am

        Glad it worked out with applesauce! Was it slightly sweet?

        Reply
        • Andrea says

          January 23, 2021 at 6:35 pm

          No, you couldn’t tell that they had applesauce in them at all and my husband thought that they were the perfect tasting meatball!

          Reply
          • Karen says

            January 26, 2021 at 2:28 pm

            Cool!

            Reply
    11. Sherry says

      January 12, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Hi ,

      Do I have to alter the recipe if I’m using an 8qt instant pot? I’m trying this recipe tonight.

      Thanks

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 13, 2021 at 2:24 pm

        I’d increase broth to 1.5 cups instead of 1 cup.

        Reply
    12. Shawn says

      January 10, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      What can I use in place of the egg? We have an egg allergy at my house.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 11, 2021 at 6:49 pm

        Haven’t tried these myself but here’s what the old google said, “2 tablespoons buttermilk per egg.
        3 tablespoons plain yogurt per egg.
        1/4 cup ricotta cheese per egg.”

        Reply
    13. Lauri says

      January 2, 2021 at 7:52 am

      Could you make these in a crock pot

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 4, 2021 at 12:30 pm

        yes, slow cooker instructions are listed in the bottom of the recipe card:
        Slow Cooker Instructions:

        Add 1 cup beef broth to bottom of slow cooker. Stir in the pasta sauce.
        Add beef, onion, orzo, egg, parsley, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce to a mixing bowl. Use clean or gloved hands to combine the mixture.
        Form into ping pong size balls. Place each meatball into the sauce in the slow cooker.
        Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
        Gently stir in the cheeses. Serve and enjoy!

        Reply
        • Victoria says

          March 7, 2021 at 6:59 am

          Can you freeze these if you double the recipe?

          Reply
          • Karen says

            March 8, 2021 at 1:24 pm

            Yes I think that would work nicely.

            Reply
    14. Crystal says

      January 1, 2021 at 6:40 pm

      I doubled the recipe but used 1 lb beef and 1 lb of hot sausage. It was awesome!! Thank you 😊

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 4, 2021 at 12:33 pm

        SAUSAGE! Yum that sounds so great.

        Reply
    15. Pamm says

      December 31, 2020 at 5:58 am

      Could you use cooked or instant brown rice to make porcupines?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 4, 2021 at 12:53 pm

        I’d use either and it should work great!

        Reply
    16. Tricia says

      December 31, 2020 at 5:55 am

      Sounds tasty! I have a couple of hungry teens and would like to double the amount of meatballs. Do I double the liquids as well? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 4, 2021 at 12:53 pm

        No need to double liquids. Just meatball ingredients will be fine.

        Reply
    17. Janis Olson says

      December 31, 2020 at 5:11 am

      These look and sound delicious and easy. My question for you is, how do I get the cheeses to melt into the recipe instead of sticking like a gunky mess to the bottom of the pot? I have this problem with any of your recipes that have cheese added.

      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 4, 2021 at 12:53 pm

        I would remove the Instant Pot liner from the pot. Set it on the counter. Then add in the cheeses. That should help.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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